Self-care: what you might think it looks like vs what it actually looks like.

Self-care is a term that has become synonymous with a spa break, weekends away or expensive purchases for yourself. And while those might feature in your ideal self-care list, they’re not really what it’s all about.

So what is self-care? And how can we get it when our lives are so busy?

Well, often self-care looks like small acts that tend to our needs. And that starts with awareness. Awareness of our needs. It might sound obvious, but for many of us it can be hard to even know when we’re struggling or when we need to ask for something - be that time, space, support.

So we start with awareness and check in with ourselves. When we become overwhelmed or we respond in a way that feels out of proportion to the situation, we might need to ask “what’s really going on for me?”

When we become aware of what is going on, we can also start to look out for patterns of behaviour - noticing times of day and situations that are challenging for us. When you’re able to notice these, you can respond in a way that you need.

So what can self-care look like? Well, truthfully, it can look like anything that feels good to you. Knowing what YOU need is key. Perhaps it’s a cup of tea in the morning before anyone wakes up, a walk in nature during your lunch break rather than scrolling your phone, or journalling your thoughts to help make sense of them. There is no one way, but there are lots of ways.

Therapy, too, is a form of self-care. By attending weekly counselling sessions, you’re prioritising your own needs and committing to understanding and knowing yourself better. It might not give you the instant gratification that some self-care can, but it can give you something far deeper and longer lasting, that can stay with you for life.

Taking time to breathe and focus on yourself is an important aspect of self-care